The Other Side

Oh But a Dream

Song: Drag by Day Wave

After the mishap at Trini's, we decided to leave. Everybody piled into Jaden's car, the minivan he borrowed from his mom. I pulled my car around back with Trini's permission and climbed into the van's front passenger seat. Shifting, I reached under me to pull out a McDonald's Happy Meal burger wrapper. I wrinkled my nose, balled it up, and tossed it into the backseat.

"Hey!" Declan held the wrapper in his hands then proceeded to gag over the tiniest amount of ketchup still crusted onto the paper.

"Dude," Jaden warned, "if you're gonna hurl, do it out the window. This car is filthy enough."

Wind whipped my hair and stung my face when Declan rolled down the window of the van. He leaned his now green face over the side of the sill, but -thankfully- nothing came up. In addition to the stench of the trash-ridden van, I could also smell salt. The beach.

Living in Florida had it's perks. Our tiny beach town was, well, a beach town. So every weekend the five of us went to Trini's then to the beach for the day. Everybody brought boards, floats, food, and tons of towels and blankets. It was great every time. The mini vacation was always dreamlike. Whoever was driving played whatever music they wanted, singing along and beating the steering wheel. The windows down with the smell of the sea and the wind tossing our hair every which way. The rest of the crew trying desperately to sing along to whatever banger was being blown out of the bass. Jaden would be finishing up the meal he had ordered from Trini's - or driving, in this case. Catie was taking pictures of the madness with her phone. Declan would have his hand out the window, sometimes posing for his sister. Ash would sing hilariously off-key to the radio, and I would soak it all in.

Pulling up to the public parking lot, I felt slightly disappointed that the drive was over. Jaden cursed, patting his pockets. Catie walked up behind him with her beach bag over her shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. 

"What's wrong, J?"

"My wallet," he mumbled, "is at home on the counter."

I fumbled in my bag for mine, and pulled out $35. I slapped it into his palm. "Pay me back later."

"Yayyyyy Braeeeeee," Declan jumped up and down with mock enthusiasm. I stuck my tongue out at him.

We finished unloading the car and made the short hike up the sand hills to our secret spot. We had discovered it in 7th grade and have been going back ever since. I placed my blankets and bag under the cluster of  palm trees and pulled off my strawberry-stained cover up.  

Ash sauntered up in a pair of swimming trunks adorned with tiny shade-wearing pineapples. Goof. His head leaned down, him towering over me. His eyes darted from my lips to my eyes and he leaned in.

Right when I thought he was going to kiss me, he gripped my waist tight and flung me over his shoulder. My top half was dangling down his back as Ash raced down the beach to the water. I caught a glimpse of Jaden holding Catie bridal style, dipping her until her hair touched the water.

I took a deep breath before Ash dumped me into the waves. The salt water enveloped me as a wave - no pun intended - of calm came over me. This is where we belonged. In high school, in Florida, at the beach on the weekends, at Trini's on weekdays finishing up biology homework, in Jaden's van listening to weird indie bands. I never wanted it to change. 

I came up out of the water to my boyfriend's dimples. I smiled. Ash laughed. Catie was giggling. Jaden was mocking her.

Declan screamed. Declan was spitting up water. Declan was still screaming. He didn't stop.